Coating apparatus



IllllI llllr 2 sheets-sheet 1 lill :IIN

l M. J. CONKLIN COATING APPARATUS Original Filed April ll, 1932 Nov. 23,1937.

2 Sheets-Shet 2 M. J. CONKLIN coATING APPARATUS original Filed April 11,1932 Nav. 23, 1937.

INVENTOR /V// kc//v/f//fi i 1 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 23, 1937 PATENTol-Fics COAT'ING APPARATUS Melvin J. Conklin, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignorto Saml. Binghams Son Mfg. C0., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisSubstitute for application Serial No. 604,412, `April 11, 1932. Thisapplication March 23, 1933, Serial No. 662,226

27 Claims.

coating inking cylinders or rolls and the like.

Second, to provide an apparatus by means of which cylinders suchv asinking cylinders may be veryquickly and economically coated whilemaintaining uniform diameter throughout.

Third, to provide an apparatus of this character wherein aflow-retar-ding member is arranged in spaced relation tothe roll orcylinder to improve the operation thereof.

A Fourth, to provi-de an apparatus of this character having improvedmeans for rcollecting the excess coating material.

Fifth, to provide improved means for manually adjusting the transverseposition of the flow noz- 20 Zl relativeto the roll or cylinder to becoated.

Sixth', to provide an apparatus having the above desirable features'andcharacteristics which is simpleV and economical in its parts andeffective r, and efficient in operation. y

Seventh, to provide a method of coating inking cylinders and the'likewhich avoids the necessity of heating or bringing the cylinders vtoapredetermined temperature, and at the same time produces highlysatisfactory results with a minimum of care or attention onthe part ofthe oprator.

JObjects Vrelating to details and economies of my invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

Astructure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

l Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a coating apparatusembodying the features of my invention. V

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side 15 elevation.

, Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section on a line correspon-ding to line4,-4 of Figs. 1, 3, and 5the thickness of the coating being exaggeratedfor purposes of illustration. 50 Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentarydetail section on a linecorresponding to line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing theflow-retarding member in operation, the'thickness of the coatingmaterial on. the roll being exaggerated for purposes of illustration.

55 Fig.,6 is a detailsection'on line 6 6 of Fig.'13.

First, to provide an improved apparatus for (c1. sp1- 43) In thestructure illustrated by the drawings, I

numeral I indicates the inking roll or cylinder of a printing press orthe like having beveled ends 2 and a central shaft 3, the ends 4 and 5of which` project beyond the ends of the roll proper. The roll orcylinder is supported in an inclined position by the upper pair ofbearing rollers 6, 6 and the lower chuck 1. The bearing rollers arecarried by the` transverse member 8 of the inclined support 9 which isin the form of a rectangular frame, the frame being inclined to thehorizontal as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 3. rIhe member 8 is adjustablelongitudinally of the support to accommodate rolls of diierent length.The chuck 1 has a conical socket I0 for receiving the lower end 5 of theshaft 3 of the cylinder or roll I to be coated.

'Ihe chuck is carried by the shaft 'II which isy journaled to the lowertransverse member II of the frame 9 and is connected to the electricmotor I2 by means of speed reducing gears in the gear box I3, the shaftI4 of the motor being con-` nected to the shaft I5 of the speed reducinggears by means of the lclutch I6. The motor and gear box are mounted onthe panel I'I which is in turn mounted on the frame 9. The frictionalengagement of the lower end 5 of theshaft of the cylinder or roll withthe conical socket I6 ,of Ithe chuck is suicient to cause the shaft tobe rotated with the chuck. With the parts thus arranged, it will beapparent that the inking rolls or cylin` ders may be readily placed inand removed from the apparatus and that variations in the size of therolls or cylinders, and the length and diameter of the shaft areprovided for. The bearing rollers 6 provide a centering support for theupper end* 4 of the roll or cylinder shaft.

The frame 9 is pivotally mounted at 9| on a substantially horizontalplatform I 8 which is held in elevated position by means of the legs I9.The upper end of the inclined frame 9 is supported on the platform I8 bymeans of the uprights 20, the upper ends of the latter being Vconnectedby the cross member 2I'which is disposed above the slide actuating screw22. To permit adjustment ofthe inclination of the frame, the uprights 20have aligned pin holes 92 for receiving the cross pin 93 which carriesthe frame.

The trough 23 is carried by the frame 9 in substantially parallelrelation to the axis of the roll or cylinder and under the latter forreceiving ex-n cess coating material 24 from the blade-like dam orretarding member 25 which is preferably tapered at its lower end. 'Ihelower end of the drain trough is provided with a flared down spoutbetween Ait and the bracket 38.

26 for delivering the excess coating material to the water-jacketed panor tank 21 which is arranged on the platform I8. The excess ofVcomposition dropping off the roll after the nozzle has passed below thelower end of the trough 23 passes directly to the tank 21. Y

At one side of the supporting frame, lY mount a 'slideway 28 insubstantially parallel relation to the axis of the roll or cylinder tobe coated. 'Ihe carriage or slide 29 travels on this way and is providedwith a ysegmental mit 3ll,they lower end of which is adapted forcoaction with the driving screw 22. The lower end of thedrivingY screw'is connected to the shaft 1| carrying thechuck 1 by means of 'sprocketsand the chain or belt 3| so that as the roll or cylinder is rotated,

the carriage or slide is moved downwardly;

The segmental nut 30 is mounted on the slide 29 for vertical adjustmentby means of the bell crank lever 32 which is pivoted to the vcarriage at33 and is held in inoperative position by the leaf spring 34. With theparts'thus arranged, when the carriage reaches the end of its-stroke atthe lower end of the cylinder or roll, it kmay be quickly retracted Vbymanually moving the bell crank lever 32 against the force of the leafspring 34 to lift the segmental nut 3!) out of.

`engagement with the driving screw 22 and sliding the carriage back tothe upper end of they screw or in any desired position. Y Y

'I he carriage or slide Vhasan upright or post 35 thereon having a lborereceiving the transverse arm 31. The arm 'is longitudinally androtatably adjustable on the post and is held inV adjusted positonrbymeans of Vthe set screw 83. At its outer end the arm is provided with abracket 38 which is provided with a socket receivin'gvtheVV end of thearm. Y

The bracket has a stationary abutment 39 ar. ranged with its face insubstantially parallel relation to the axis of the arm. The nozzlesupport 40 is provided with a sl1ank'4'l` which Yis journaled to thebracket 38 and has a movable abutment 42 facing the stationaryabutment-.39.

Y A nut or Vcap 43 is threaded to the end of the shank 4 l andconstitutes anY outer thrust member nozzle support is provided withahandle V41;l extending at substantially right angles to the axis of themovable Vabutment whereby the nozzle can be manually adjusted relativeto the rollor cylinder disposed thereunder. VWhen it is desired toretract the slide or carriage' the handleA 41 .is manipulated to throwthe nozzle 4i5in such position that the stream 48` of coatinglmaterialowjing therefrom clears the previously coated roll or cylinder. Thehandle 41v is Valso used'toadjust the nozzle to vary the transverseposition of the stream 48 of coating material relative to the cylinderor roll. v

Coating material is supplied tothe nozzle 45 from the tank 21 by meansof the pump 49 which is driven by the electric motor' 50,'the pump andmotor being mounted on thepanel `l which is in turn carried by theplatform 1'I`8. The pumpV is connected to the interi'orofv the tank 21nby means of the set screw 58.

' side of the'roll or cylinder.

aidocs' the conduit 52 and'V to the nozzle 45 by means of the uprightpipe 53 and the flexible pipe 54, the arrangement being Vsuch that thecarriage or slide 29 is freeto move to the ends of its stroke withoutinterference. The bottom of the tank or pan. V21` is provided with anelectrical heating element-55 for maintaining the temperature of thecoating material contained therein. The glass tube 56 is provided at theend of the tank for indicating the level of the water jacket surroundingthe tank.y Y Y The upright 35 ofthe slide carries an arm 51 which 'ispivotally and vertically adjustable thereon and secured in its adjustedposition by This arm 51 is provided with spaced longitudinal slots 59and 60 for receiving the shank 6I of the blade-like dam or retardingmember 25. The shank 6l is threaded to receive the nuts 62 and-63disposed above and below the armi 51. for .Clamping engagementtherewith. The blade is disposed tangentially of the roll or cylinder tobe coated with its edge 64 adjacent to but preferably Vin, slightlyspaced relation'to the side of the roll as illustrated b-y Figs. 4 and5. By means of the spaced longitudinal slots 59 and 60 in the arm 51,the flowretarding member 25 may be disposed on either Y Y By means ofthe clamping nuts 62 and 63, the transverse axis of the blade may beadjusted inV any desired angular position relative to the axis of theroll or cylinder. YBy way of example, the'blad'e 25 is shown with itsVtransverse axisarranged at an angle of about forty-flve degrees withthe axis of the roll or cylinder I.

The retarding member 25 is disposed'in'ad- Vance of the nozzle 45 so asto retard the natural flow of the coating liquid 65 whichis dischargedupon the roll or cylinder by the nozzle. The retarding member Yandnozzle both being mounted on 'thecarriaga they travel together inwhatever relationthey may `have been adjusted.

The coating compositionV or material is discharged upon the `vroll orcylinder in a free and unrestricted stream 48, preferably at one sideYof the verticalV plane passing through its axis (see Fig. 4) andso thatthe surface ofthe roll or cylinder upon which the material is dischargedis traveling downwardly as illustrated by the.l arrow. 'I'heV retardingVmember is disposed on the side of the roll opposite the nozzle 45 and sothat the surface ofV the roll or cylinder adjacent the retarding memberis traveling upwardly.` The result is that the retarding member servesto dam up or hold'back the coating material as indicated at 66sorthatthe final coating indicated at 61 is very uniform Vin thicknessand the coated roll is of uniform diameter fromv end to end.V

' As the stream ofcoating material is poured Vupon the downwardlyVmoving side ofthe roll or cylinder, it tends to form a thickened bodyas indicated at 65'whichtendsto flow vertically downward un-der theroll'or cylinder, but this action is anticipated by the direction oftravel' of the rollin the same direction so that the thickened body ofcoating material is delivered' to the retarding member 25 shortly afterthe Vcoating composition starts its upward travel. Theretarding memberthereupon acts'temporarily to restrain the excess material 24 upon theroll, leaving the evenly distributed' coating-61 on the rollor cylinder.Itis believed that this dammng or temporaryrretention of the excess ofcoating'fluid bythe blade 2-5 results in a more evenrde'posit, the'excess which is not deposited drainingjfrom' the roll.

A further advantage is that by this apparatus the rolls may be coatedwhile cold, it heretofore having been deemed necessary to lheat therolls to a predetermined temperature in order to provide a coating evenapproximating uniformity. Such coatings required great care and skill.With my apparatus, however, a uniform coating may be had with a minimumof attention.

Suitable coating compositions are well know in this art and therefore Ido not specify the particular compositions as my apparatus is welladapted for applying the coating compositions now in use as stated. Suchcoatings may be applied and substantially perfect rolls, that is, rollsof uniform diameter, are secured.

In the operation of my apparatus, the roll I to be coated is placed withthe lower end of its shaft 3 in the conical socket I0 of the chuck 1 andthe upper end 4 of the shaft is placed between the roller bearings 6.The nozzle 45 andretarding member 25 are then adjusted inpositionrelative to the roll I. The electric motors I2 `and 50 are set inoperation and the carriage is moved by the driving screw 22 from theupper to the lower end of the roll. At the same time, the pump 49delivers the coating material from the tank 2'Il to the nozzle 45, thelatter discharging the free and unrestricted stream 48 of coatingmaterial directly upon the downwardly moving side of the roll as thecarriage advances. On the opposite or upwardly moving side of the rolland in advance of the nozzle with respect to the direction of travel ofthe carriage, the retarding member 25 acts to uniformly distribute thecoating material on the roll, the lower end of the retarding member,preferably tapered, directing the excesscoating mate rial 24 to thetrough 23 which returns such material to the tank 21.

When the operation of coating the roll ory cylinder is completed, thehandle 21 is manipulated so that the nozzle 45 throws the stream 48 ofcoating composition clear of the roll or cylinder and the arm 51 isswung so as to throw the retarding member 25 clear of theroll orcylinder. lThe segmental nut 3Il is then elevated by means of the bellcrank 32 to disengage its lowerend from the driving screw 22 and thecarriage 'is retracted to 59 its initial position. The inking cylinderor roll is readily removed from the apparatus by merely lifting it outof the conical socketlll of the chuck.

While my improvement is simple and economical in its parts, neverthelessit greatly increases the scope and usefulness of coating apparatus,insuring as it does'a uniform coating' on the roll or cylinder. I

While I have found the arrangement and process specically described inthe specification to be the most satisfactory, nevertheless, I-am not tobe considered as limited to such specific arrangement and process, atleast in the broader aspect of the invention.

VI have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI havefoun-d very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations, as

the roll or cylinder to be coated in an inclined position, a coatingfluid discharge nozzle traveling ina line parallel to the axis of theroll or cylinder and adapted to discharge the coating material directlyupon the surface of the roll or cylinder so that the surface receivingthe coating material travels downwardly, the coating material at thepoint of contact with the roll or cylinder being unconflned, and aflow-retarding member traveling at substantially the same speed as saidnozzle and positioned in advance thereof and in spaced coacting relationto the roll or cylinder and re-` mote from the point of contact of thecoating material from the nozzle with the cylinder or roll and in suchrelation that the surface of the roll over which the flow retardation iseffected travels upwardly.

2. Apparatus for coating a roll or cylinder, the combination of meansfor supporting and rotating the roll or cylinder to be coated in aninclined position, a discharge nozzle traveling in a line parallel tothe axis of the .roll or cylinder and adapted to discharge coatingmaterial directly upon the surface of the roll or cylinder so that thesurface receiving the coating material travels downwardly, the coatingmaterial at the point of Contact with the roll or cylinder beingunconi'lned, and a flow-retarding member traveling at substantially thesame speed as said nozzle and positioned in advance thereof and incoacting relation to the roll or cylinder and remote from the nozzle andin such relation that the surface of thev roll over which the flowretardation is effected travels upwardly. y

3. Apparatus for coatingl a roll or cylinder, the combination of adischarge nozzle traveling in a line parallel to the axis of the roll orcylinder and adapted to discharge coating material directly upon thesurface of the roll or cylinder so that the surface receiving thecoating material travels downwardly, the coating material at the pointof contact with the roll or cylinder beingunconned, and aflow-retardingk membertraveling in advance of said nozzleand in coactingrelation-to the roll or cylinder and Vremote from the point of contactof the coating material with the cylinder or roll and in such relationthat the surface of the roll over which the flow retardation is effectedtravels upwardly.

4. Apparatus for coating a roll or cylinder, the combination of meansfor supporting and rotating the cylinder or roll to be coated in aninclined position, means for discharging coating material upon the rollor cylinder in an unrestricted streamsaid last named means comprising anozzle adapted `to travel parallel to the axis of the roll or cylinderand disposed to discharge the coating material upon the roll or cylinderso that the surface receiving the coating material travels downwardly,and a retarding member disposed in spaced relation to the roll so thatthe surface over which the retardation of the coating material iseffected travels upwardly.

5. In a coating apparatus of the class described, the combination ofmeans for discharging coating material rupon an inclined roll orcylinder in an unrestricted stream, said means comprising a nozzleadapted to travel parallel to the axis of the roll or cylinder anddisposed to discharge the coating materialV upon the roll or cylinder sothat thesurface receiving the coating material travels downwardly,and aretarding member disposed in relation Yto the roll so that the surfaceover which the retardation of the coating material is effected travelsupwardly.

6. In a coating"- apparatus of the class' described, the combination ofmeans for discharging coating material upon an inclined roll or cylinderin an unrestricted stream, said means comprising a nozzle adapted totravel parallel to the axis of the roll or cylinder and disposed todischarge the coating material upon the roll or cylinder so that thesurface receiving the coating material travels downwardly, and aretarding member having an edge disposed in coasting relation to theroll so that the surface over which therretardation of the coatingmaterial is effected travelsupvvardly.VV

7. A coating apparatus for inking rolls and the like, comprising meansfor supportingV and rotating the roll to be coatedin an inclinedposition, means for discharging coating material upon said rollcomprising a nozzle traveling in a plane Vparallel to the axis of theroll and disposed to discharge coating material upon the roll'at oneside of the longitudinal center thereof so that the surface of the rollat the point of discharge yis traveling downwardly, and a blade-likeretarding member pointed at its Vlower end disposed verticallyr andtangentially of the roll and opposite to and in advance of the point ofdischarge of the coating material upon the roll, said retarding memberbeing disposed so that the surface of the roll adjacent the retardingmember travels upwardly.

8. VThe combination with traveling means for flowing a liquid coatingmaterial upon an inclined rotating roll, of means carried by saidtraveling means for retarding the natural flow of the composition on therollxincluding an arm' moving with said traveling means, and a verticalblade adjustably secured to said arm for coaction with the roll as thelatter rotates and the blade is moved parallel to the axis thereof.

9. VThe combination with means for flowing a liquid composition upon aninclined rotating roll, of means for retarding the natural flowof thecomposition on the roll including an arm moving with said liquidapplying means, and a ow retarding member adjustably secured to said VV5Q`position, a coating fluid discharge nozzletraveling in a lineparallel' to the axis of the roll or' cylinder and adapted to dischargeYthe coating material directly upon the surface of the roll or cyljcombination of means for supporting and rotator cylinder beingunconfined, and ailowfretardl ing member traveling at Ysubstantially thesame,

,speed as said nozzle and positioned in advance thereof Vand in coactingrelation to the roll or cylinder and remote from the nozzle.

12. Apparatus for coating a roller-cylinder. the Y arcades Vtraveling inadvance of said nozzle and in coacting relation to the roll or cylinderand remote from the point of Contact ofthe coating material withthercylinder or roll and in such relation Y that the surface of the rollover which the flow retardation is effected travels in the oppositeverticalY direction.V

13-. In a coating apparatus of the class described, the combination ofrmeans for discharging coating material upon an inclined roll orcylinder in an vunrestricted stream, said means comprising'a nozzleadapted to travel parallel to the axis ofA the roll or cylinder anddisposed to discharge the coating material upon the roll or cylinder sothat the surface receiving the coating material travelsY in one verticaldirection, and a retarding'member having an edge disposed in coactingrelation to the roll so that thesurface over which' the retardation ofthe coating material is effected travels in the opposite verticaldirection.

14. Apparatus for coating inking rolls and the like, comprising meansfor supporting and rotating the roll to be coated in an inclinedposition, means for pouring an unrestricted stream of coating materialupon said roll comprising a nozzle traveling in a plane parallel to theaxis of the roll and disposed to discharge coating material directlyVupon the roll, and a blade-like retard- ,ing member disposed at anangle to the axis of the rollA and having aY portion adjacent the outerperiphery of the roll and in advance of the point ofv discharge of thecoating material upon the roll.

15. In a roll coating apparatus, the combination with vmeans forsupporting and rotating a rolll to be coated in an inclined position, ofa carthe roll, fa coating fluiddischarge means adapted to` pourfcoatingmaterial upon the roll in a uniform unrestricted stream, and a flowretarding member carried by said carriage and positioned inV advance ofsaid coating material discharge means at the side opposite said streamand acting to control the ow of the coating material longitudinally ofthe roll.

16. Aj rolll coating apparatus provided with traveling means for pouringa free stream of coating fluid upon an inclined rotating roll, thetraveling means-moving from the upper to the lower endofthe roll duringits delivery stroke, and a flow retarding member carried by saidtraveling means and movable longitudinally of andr adjacent the roll inspaced Yrelation to and in advance of the stream of the coating fluid.

' 17. A roll coating Vapparatus comprising means for rotating a rollf tobeV coated oncits axis in an Vinclinedcpositiom'a dam travelinglongitudinally f of the roll and disposed tangentially thereof and sothatcthe surface of the rollY adjacent the dam travels upwardly, andmeans for pouring Va free stream of fluid coatingmaterial upon said rollat a point at the rear of 'said dam. e Y

18. A roll coating apparatus comprising means for rotating a roll to becoated on its axis in an Vinclined position, a dam travelinglongitudinally ofthe roll,V and means for pouring a free stream offluidzfcoating material upon saidroll at a point angularly removed fromand at the rear of said dam.

19. A coating apparatus for inclined inking rolls and the likecomprising a nozzle traveling in a plane parallel to the axis of the@roll to be coated and adapted to deliver a free stream of coating fluidto one side of the roll, and a blade-like retarding member pointed atits lower end disposed vertically and tangentially at the other side ofthe roll to be coated and in advance of the said nozzle for controllingthe natural flow of the coating fluid on the surface of the inclinedroll.

20. A coating apparatus for inclined inking rolls and thelike Comprisinga nozzle traveling in a plane parallel to the axis of the roll toy becoated and adapted to pour a free stream of the coating 'fluid directlyon the roll, and a blade-like retarding member disposed tangentially ofthe roll to be coated and in angular relation to and in advance of thesaid nozzle for controlling the natural flow of the coating fluid onthesurface of the inclined roll.

21. A roll coating apparatus for inclined rolls, comprising a carriage,a coating fluid discharge means carried by said carriage and adapted topour a free stream of the coating fluid directly on the roll, and a flowretarding member carried by said carriage and positioned in angularrelation to and in advance of said coating material discharge means forcontrolling the natural ow of the coating iluid on the surface of theinclined roll.

22. The method of applying a coating of uniform thickness to an inkingroll or the like, comprising rotating an unheated roll to be coated inan inclined position, pouring fluid coating material thereon in a freestream moving longitudinally of the roll and beginning at the upper endthereof, and retarding the natural flow of the coating materiallongitudinally of the cylinder.

23. The method of applying a coating of uniform thickness to an inkingroll or the like, comprising rotating a roll to be coated in an inclinedposition, pouring fluid coa-ting material thereon kin a free streammoving longitudinally and at one side of the roll and beginning at theupper end thereof, and retarding the natural ow of the coating materiallongitudinally and at the other side of the cylinder.

24. The method of applying coating to an inking roll or the like whichcomprises rotating the roll to be coated in an inclined position,pouring a free stream of coating fluid thereon, moving the point ofapplication of said coating to said roll downwardly along the latter anddamming the natural flow of the composition longitudinally of the rollat a point in advance of and angularly spaced from said stream.

25. The method of applying coating to an inking roll or the like whichcomprises rotating an unheated roll to be coated in an inclinedposition, pouring a free stream of coating fluid thereon, moving thepoint of application of said coating to said roll downwardly along thelatter and damming the natural flow of the composition longitudinally ofthe roll at a point in advance of and angularly spaced from said stream.

26. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansfor supporting a roller in inclined position with respect to thehorizontal, a nozzle for directing a stream of molten composition ontothe-surface of said roller in excess of the quantity required to form acoating thereon, means for rotating said roller and effecting relativemovement-between the roller and nozzle in a direction longitudinally ofthe roller beginning at the upper end of the latter, and a deflectormember maintained in Xed longitudinal position with respect to saidnozzle and adapted to contact the roller surface a short distance inadvance of the nozzle, said member acting to divert oif from the rollersurface any composition tending tc flow by gravity beyond the member.

27. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meanssupporting a roller to be coated in a position to permit draining ofcomposition along the roller in an endwise direction, means for applyingcomposition progressively throughout the length of the roller surfaceand in an amount in excess of that required to form a coating of thedesired thickness, and means act-v ing mechanically in advance of thepoint of application to remove composition from the roller surface.

MELVIN J. CONKLIN.

